Plainness and Sweetness

Frank Chimero mulls the beauty of the plain and the normal in design. I like the implicit humility Frank suggests in designs that root their beauty in the quiet satisfaction of their function—not “an overly accentuated, hyper-specific identity”:

I am for a design that’s like vanilla ice cream: simple
and sweet, plain without being austere. It should be
a base for more indulgent experiences on the occasions
they are needed, like adding chocolate chips and cookie
dough. Yet these special occassions are rare. A good
vanilla ice cream is usually enough. I don’t wish to
be dogmatic—every approach has its place, but sometimes
plainness needs defending in a world starved for attention
and wildly focused on individuality. Here is a reminder:
the surest way forward is usually a plain approach
done with close attention to detail. You can refine
the normal into the sophisticated by pursuing clarity
and consistency. Attentiveness turns the normal artful.